Speed responsive device



July 7, 1942. c. E. BAsToN SPEED RESPONSIVE DEVICE Filed Feb. 20, 1940 ffy.

. 9 ma. 5 IY T d AW. ..N R W Y. im lcL T A l w ,C s i. .mf Cl S W MM l Patented July 7, 1942 SPEED RESPONSIVE DEVICE Cyril E. Baston, Forest Hills, Pa., assigner to Westinghouse Electric Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of n Pennsyl Application February 20, 1940, Serial No. 319,875

.5' Claims.

My invention relates, generally, to speed responsive devices and, more particularly, to devices responsive to the speed of rotation of alternating-current motors.

Alternating-current traction motors of the series commutator type require inductive shunts across their interpole, or commutating pole, ileld windings in order to obtain most satisfactory commutation. Furthermore, the impedance of the shunts must be changed as the speed of the motor changes. Formerly, relays of two different types have been utilized to control the operation of switches which change the impedance of the shunts. One is of the double-coil balanced-beamtype and the other is a powerfactor relay utilizing a motor element. The foregoing relays are relatively large in size and complicated in structure.

An object of my invention, generally stated, is to provide a speed-responsive device which shall be simple in structure, eiilcient in operation and which may be economically manufactured and installed.

A more specific objectof my invention is to provide for utilizing a simple electromagnetic device as a speed responsive element in a speed responsive device.

A further object of my invention is to provide a speed responsive device which may he readily adjusted to be responsive to different speeds.

Other objects of my invention will be explained fully hereinafter or willl be apparent to those skilled in the art.

The operation of the present invention is based on the principle that with a given field iiux, the counter-electromotive force generated in a motor armature is proportional to the speed of the armature. The voltage drop across the iield winding of the motor is proportional to the field iiux and thisV voltage is applied through a phase correcting network to one winding of a threewinding transformer. The voltage across the armature vis proportional to the counter-electromotive force and is applied through a phasecorrecting network to a second winding of the three-winding transformer. The third winding ofthe transformer is connected to the operating winding of an electromagnetic device which is operated when the motor is rotating at a predetermined speed.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description, taken in commotion with the accompanying drawing, in which: A

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a speedresponsive device embodying my invention;

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are diagrammatic views illustrating the method of operation of the device, and

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of a modification of the invention shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing and particularly to Fig. 1, the system shown therein comprises a motor III having an armature winding II and a series field winding I2, a transformer I3 having one winding I4 connected across the armature Il, a second winding I5 connected across the series eld winding I2 and a third winding I6 which'is connected to an operating winding Il of an electromagnetic device It. In Fig. 1 the electromagneticdevice I8 is illustrated as a relay which is provided with a polarizing winding i9 in addition to the operating winding I l. The

winding I9 is also connected across the field windformer I3 may be properly adjusted, phase-y correcting networks 22 and Z3 are interposed in the circuits for the windings Ill and I5, respec- Y tively. As shown, the phase-correcting network 22 comprises a, resistor 24 and a reactor 25. The network 23 likewise comprises a .resistor 26 and a reactor 2l. However, networks comprising a resistor and 'a capacitor may be utilized, if desired, to adjust the phase relation of the voltages applied to the transformer I3, as will be understood.

The motor I0 may be of the series commutator type and is supplied with power through conductors 28 and 29, which may be connected to any suitable source of alternating-current power (not shown).

As explained hereinbefore, the voltage drop across the field winding I2 is proportional to the field flux. Consequently, the voltage applied to the winding I5 of the transformer I3 is proportional to the field flux of the motor IIJ. Likewise, the voltage applied to the winding I4 of the transformer I3 is proportional to the counterelectromotive force of the motor I which, in turn, is proportional to the rotational speed of the armature II of the motor.

Referring to the sketches shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, it will be seen that the voltage supplied to the operating winding I1 of the relay I8 by the transformer I3 is of a fairly high value when the motor is at a standstill and the eld voltage is predominant. 'I'he relay voltage Vdecreases to zero as the motor speed increases until the motor field voltage applied to the winding I is equal to the counter-electromotive force of the motor which is applied to the winding I4. As the motor speed increases, the counter-electromotive force increases and the voltage applied to the relay winding I1 also increases, but the relay voltage is shifted in phase 180 electrical degrees. It is ,a the shifting in phase of the voltage applied to the relay which makes the operation of the relay possible.

As shown by the arrows in Fig. 2, the windings I4 and I5 are so disposed on the outer legs of the transformer I3 that the luxes'induced by these windings are in opposite directions. Thus, when the ux induced by the winding I5 exceeds that induced by the winding I4, the difference flows through the middle leg of the transformer in a downward direction, as indicated by the arrow on the middle leg.

As shown in Fig. 3, when the voltages applied to the windings I4 and I5 are equal and the flux induced by these windings is equal, no flux flows through the middle leg of the transformer and consequently no voltage is induced in the winding I6. When the voltage applied to the winding I4, which is proportional to the counter-electromotive force of the motor, is greater than the voltage applied to the winding I5, which is proportional to the field flux of the motor, the flux induced by the winding I4 exceeds the flux induced by the winding I5. Consequently, a flux flows through the middle leg of the transformer i in an upward direction, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4, and the voltage induced in the winding I6 is in the opposite direction from that shown in Fig. 2. Therefore, current flows through the winding I'l of the relay I8 in the opposite direction from that under the 'conditions illustrated in Fig. 2.

Since the voltage applied to the polarizing winding I9 of the relay I8 does notl change in phase relation, the polarizing winding provides a certain number of ampere-turns tending to lift the relay armature. When the motor is at a standstill, the voltage supplied to the winding Il by the transformer I3 provides an equal and opposite number of ampere turns and the resulting force on the relay armature .is zero. As the motor speed increases and consequently the voltage applied to the winding il decreases, as explained hereinbefore, the net ampere-turns on the relay increases until the relay operating coil ampere-turns become zero. When the voltage applied to the relay coil changes its phase relation and begins to increase, the Aampere-turns provided by the coil I'l are added to those supplied by the coil I9 and, when the net ampereturns reach the correct value, the relay is operated.

It will be understood that the operating characteristics of the relay I8 may be changed by so designing the transformer I3 ythat parts of the magnetic circuit saturate under predetermined conditions. Also, the characteristics of the relay may be changed to operate at different motor speeds by inserting a variable impedance 3| in the circuit for the winding I4 of the transformer I3, as shown in Fig. 1. 'I'he impedance 3l may be utilized to adjust the voltage applied to the winding I4, thereby causing the relay I8 to operate at different predetermined motor speeds.

In the modification of the invention shown in Fig. 5, in which like parts are designated by the same reference characters as in Fig. 1, the electromagnetic device I8a comprises a torque motor having a stator winding 32 and a rotor winding 33. The rotor 33 actuates a contact arm 34 which is normally biased against a stop 35 by a spring 36. The stator winding 32 may be connected directly to the power conductors 28 and 29, as shown. The rotor winding 33 is connected to the transformer winding I6 in a manner similar to the operating winding I1 of the relay I8, as explained hereinbefore.

With the connections illustrated, the motor torque is exerted backwardly (against the stop 35) as long as the iield voltage which is applied to the winding I5 of the transformer I3 predominates over the counter-electromotive force of the motor I0 which is applied to the winding I4, as described hereinbefore. When the voltages applied to the windings I4 and I5 are equal, the torque of the rotor 33 is zero. When the voltage applied to the winding I4 is greater than that applied to the winding I5 of the transformer I3, the -rotor torque reverses, thereby operating the torque arm 34 against the tension of the spring 36 to cause a contact member 31, carried by the torque arm 34, to engage a contact member 38.

The operating characteristics of the torque motor may be changed by adjusting the variable impedance 3|, as explained hereinbefore, or they may be changed by varying the tension of the spring 36, thereby causing the torque motor to operate at different speeds of the motor ID.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that I have provided a speed-responsive device which is simple in structure, as standard apparatus well known in the electrical art may be utilized in constructing the device. Also, the electromagnetic device is positive in operation, since its operation depends upon a reversal of the phase relation of the voltage applied to one of -its windings and is not dependent upon a gradual determined increments in the rotational speed of a motor during its accelerating period.

I do not desire to be restricted to the particular form or arrangement of parts herein shown and described, since it is evident that they may be changed and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device responsive to the speed of an electric motor having an armature winding and a field winding comprising, in combination, a transformer having a plurality of windings and an electromagnetic device having an operating winding energized from said transformer, said transformer having one winding connected across the field winding of the motor, a second winding connected across the armature winding of the motor, said windings being so disposed that the iluxes induced thereby are in opposite directions, and a third winding connected to the operating winding on the electromagnetic device, said third winding being energized by the difference in the fluxes of the first two windings, and phase-correcting devices interposed in the circuits for the first two windings on the transformer, whereby said device is responsive to a predetermined speed of the motor.

2. A device responsive to the speed of an elec- -tric motor having an armature winding and a field winding comprising, in combination, a transformer having a plurality of windings and an electromagnetic device having an operating winding energized from said transformer, sai'd transformer having 'one winding connected across the field winding of the motor, a second Winding connected across the armature winding of the motor, said windings being so disposed that the fluxes induced thereby are in opposite directions, and a third winding connected to the operating winding on the electromagnetic device, said third winding being energized by the difference in the fluxes of the first two windings, phase-correcting devices interposed in the circuits for the rst two windings on the transformer, whereby said device is responsive to a predetermined speed of the motor, and means for adjusting the voltage applied to one winding of the transformer thereby changing the operating characteristics of the electromagnetic device.

3. A device responsive to the speed of an electric motor having an armature Winding and a eld winding comprising, in combination, a transformer having a plurality of windings and an electromagnetic device having a polarizing winding and an operating winding, said transformer having one winding connected across the field winding of the motor, a second winding connected across the armature winding of the motor, said windings being so disposed that the uxes induced thereby are in opposite directions, and a third winding connected to the operating winding on the electromagnetic device, said third winding being energized by the difference in the fluxes of the first two windings, and phase-ad justing devices disposed in the circuits for lhe first two. windings on the transformer, whereby said polarizing winding and said operating winding cooperate to operate said device at a predetermined motor speed.

4. A device responsive to the speed of an electric motor having an armature winding and a field winding comprising, in combination, a transformer having a plurality of windings and an electromagnetic device having a polarizing winding and an operating winding, said transformer having one winding connected across the fieldwinding of the motor, a second Winding connected across the armature winding of the motor, said windings being so disposed that the fluxes induced thereby are in opposite directions, and a third winding connected to the operating winding on the electromagnetic device, said third winding being energized by the difference in the iiuxes of the first two windings, and phase-adjusting devices disposed in the circuits for the first two windings'on the transformer, said polarizing winding being connected across said motor field winding, whereby said polarizing winding and said operating winding cooperate to operate said device at a predetermined motor speed.

5. In'a speed-responsive system, in combination, an electric motor having an armature winding and a field winding, a transformer having one winding connected across said field Winding and a second winding connected across said armature winding, the flux induced by the second winding being opposite in direction to the flux induced by the first winding, phase-correcting devices disposed in the circuits for said windings, and an electromagnetic device having contact members, an operating winding and a polarizing winding cooperating with the operating winding to actuate the contact members, said transformer having a third Winding for energizing said operating winding, the energization of vsaid third winding being proportional to the difference in the uxes of the first two windings, whereby said contact members are actuated at a predetermined motor speed. f

CYRIL E. EASTON. 

